Oil, gas reports may expand in Pa., other states

PITTSBURGH -- The federal government wants to provide more frequent oil and gas production reports for Pennsylvania and other states that have seen a boom in drilling in recent years.

Federal officials want to add monthly production estimates from Pennsylvania and 11 other states. Pennsylvania currently reports on production every six months, while Ohio and West Virginia report once a year.

Details of the proposal are still being worked out, but a boom in production suggests a need for such data, U.S. Energy Information Administration spokesman Jonathan Cogan said Monday. He didn't immediately have a list of states other than Pennsylvania that might be included in the monthly reports, which are currently issued for gas production in Texas, Louisiana, Alaska and a few others.

The Marcellus Shale Coalition, a leading industry group based in Pennsylvania, said Monday that it supports the proposal.

"No one should have to wait six months" to get production information, said Kathryn Klaber, the group's president. "We certainly support EIA's desire to have Pennsylvania be where other states are in terms of more frequent reporting."

For decades Pennsylvania produced only modest amounts of oil and gas, so monthly reports weren't needed.

But a boom in oil and gas drilling led to soaring production in Pennsylvania, North Dakota and other states.